As I dredged past the cave entrance, I picked up a fallen stone and etched a mark into the cave wall. It had been so long that I couldn't even try to keep track of how many days had passed. The best figures I had were rough estimates. Therefore I did what I could.
A single horizontal mark, indicating the first day.
The first day since I became me. Since I was alone.
With a breath of hesitation, I stepped past the cave. I had many things to do.
--=o-o=--
I continued to slave away at my cave furnishings. If I was going to make any leeway on my goals, I'd have to start with some simplistic goals. I'd have to improve myself to have any chance of getting past the abominations. In my few attempts of exploring past the valley, I'd always run into those monstrous creatures. From my observations, they were near perfect hunters. Their senses immense, their strength overwhelming, their might terrifying...
Spending all the time in between hunting on the shack, I quickly finished the cramp, yet cozy abode. The marks on the side of the wall had slightly grown, the tally marks beginning their spread on the wall...
Having completed the first goal I set out for myself, I started on what I hoped to rely on.
Metallurgy.
The trees of the valley had immense strength, easily several times stronger than those of Earth. The cave walls too were exceptionally strong, far stronger than any stone I'd known. Therefore, I made a small inference... I was banking on that very same concept. Ore.
A few years back I developed an interest in smithing and metalworking after I had watched many shows and documentaries on ancient metallurgy. The suggested feed on social media drove me down a dark rabbit hole. Emerging from the hole far weirder and a little wiser.
If the same principles of increase strength carried onto the ore, if I manage to learn the art of blacksmithing. I may just have a chance against the monsters.
A chance to slay them.
--=o-o=--
If I had any hope in this endeavour, I'd have to start at the foundation of all civilizations. Clay.
The clay casts which had birthed the greatest creation of which man laid all of its histories, the moulds which would bring about the best and the worst of man.
That would be my starting point.
To my relief, the lush greenery of the valley thrived on a narrow and shallow river which ran directly through the lowest point.
Walking up and down the small river, I spotted several gatherings of odd materials on the river lining. With my limited knowledge of underlying nature that which surrounded me, I hauled batches of each back a central clearing near the river.
Piling them up in twelve distinct mounds. Some mounds carried far brighter colours than others, while some maintained their semi-wet shape better than others. The many different characteristics of these mounds made me worry. I had very little experience with clay on Earth. This was going to be interesting...
Using a torn piece of fabric, I tied my slowly growing hair behind me. Thinking about what I was about to try, I grew slightly giddy.
This was going to be fun.
It was time for some experiments...